Cross Cultural Perspectives

Cross Cultural Perspectives
The Nike Corporation is a well known global organization. From the very beginning the company has turned to other countries as a means of cheap labor. Nike was started in 1964 as Blue Ribbon Sports. Over the years Nike have had a few challenges with cultural issues. Nike has been criticized for using some factories that are located in China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Mexico. The factories that they were using in Vietnam was documented for violating minimum wage and overtime laws, they have made the changes to correct these mistakes.
During the 1990s, Nike faced criticism for the use of child labor in Cambodia and Pakistan in factories it contracted to manufacture soccer balls. Although Nike took action to curb or at least reduce the practice, they continue to contract their production to companies that operate in areas where inadequate regulation and monitoring make it hard to ensure that child labor is not being used. A July 2008 investigation by Australian Channel 7 News found a large number of cases involving forced labor in one of the largest Nike apparel factories. The factory located in Malaysia was filmed by an undercover crew who found instances of squalid living conditions and forced labor. Nike has since stated that they will take corrective action to ensure the abuse does not continue with in any of the factories that they are contracted with. The remedy for Nike, other global brands, and various agencies, implemented to remove child labor did not include the voices of the children, or their parents, who, in our study, had an entirely different characterization of their work experience. Nike is focusing their corporate responsibility efforts in the areas in which they can have the greatest impact and create the most value...